The Wandering Jew [3 Volume Set] by Eugene Sue

The Wandering Jew by Eugene Sue 

Publication: 1844-45 Chapman and Hall ; First Edition complete in three volumes 

An attractively bound first edition set of “The Wandering Jew” by Eugène Sue, a French novelist renowned for his serialized fiction. The narrative is loosely inspired by the legend of the Wandering Jew, a mythical figure who is condemned to roam the Earth until the Second Coming for taunting Jesus on his way to the Crucifixion. However, Sue’s version does not concentrate on the mythical character himself; rather, it symbolically employs the idea to weave a complex narrative about social justice, fate, and redemption. This work significantly influenced socialist and progressive thought in the mid-19th century, sparking both interest and controversy due to its anti-clerical tone, particularly among conservative religious readers.

Condition: three quarters leather with five raised bands, marbled paper boards, corners are exposed on all volumes, marbled end papers, all volumes are tightly bound and in Very Good condition overall